Top cowl vehicle antenna



Aug. 22, 1939. H. GREENBERG ET Al.

I i v TOP COWL'VEHICLE ANTENNA Filed Feb. 18, 1939 INVENTORS Her/.rzan Greerze Pzlz Morrso BY I, r l ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 22, 1939 PATENT OFFICE TOP COWL VEHICLE ANTENNA Herman Greenberg and Philip Morrison, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application February 18, 1939, Serial No. 257,034

9 Claims.

This vinvention relates to new and useful improvements in a top cowl vehicle antenna.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a top cowl antenna characterized by a metal tube extending through an` opening in the cowl of a vehicle in the vicinity of the driver and which has a telescopically extendable and retractable antenna engaged therethrough in a manner to be extended above said tube or to be retracted beneath said tube.

Still further it is proposed to provide a flexible casing attached to the bottom of said metal tube in a manner to cause said antenna to be extended therein when in its retracted position.

Still further it is proposed to provide a kick pad for covering the iiexible case to protect the same from becoming worn due to the engagement of ones legs therewith While driving the vehicle.

Still further it is proposed to -provide a means for drawing the kick pad and case against the inner wall of the vehicle when the antenna is in its extended position for providing more space within the vehicle in the vicinity of the driver.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the ap-pended claims Ain which the various novel features: of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a vehicle having a top cowl vehicle antenna constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the telescopic antenna, per se.

" Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the metal tubeand associated parts.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFig.

5'is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating the position of the parts when the antenna is extended.

.` Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. l,

but illustrating another form of connections.

" The top cowl vehicle antenna, according to this "invention, includes a metall tube I0 lwhich is adapted to be extended through an opening in Vthe cowl ofa vehicle II in the vicinity o-f the driver. `AThe vehicle II is provided 4with a dash- .board I2 upon which a radio I3 is mounted.

A top insulation cover I4 engages over the top projecting portion of the metal tube I0 and is adaptedv to abut the top face of the material of the cowl above the opening through which the tube Ill extends. The top insulation cover tube I4 is constructed of hard rubber and is provided with an inclined bottom surface I 4a matching the inclination of the vehicle for causing the cover tube I4 to solidly sit in position thereon.

A bottom insulation cover tube I 5 engages over the bottom projecting portion of the metal tube ID and abuts the inner face of the material of the -cowl about the opening through which the tube I passes. The bottom insulation cover tube I5 is constructed of soft rubber and is provided with a top inclined surface 52 matching the inclination of the cowl to permit the bottom. insur lation cover tube to rigidly set in position against the bottom face thereof. An insulation tubing l0 is interposed between the rubber tubing I5 and the tube I to insulate the same and the antenna from the `ground of the vehicle.

A nut It is threadedly engaged on the top portion of the tube I0 which extends beyond the top edge of the top insulation cover tube I4. A similar nut I'I is threadedly engaged on the bottom portion of the tube IIJ. The bottom portion of the tube extends lbeyond the bottom edge of the bottom insulation cover tube I5 and the nut I'I is adapted to be tightened there-against for rigidly maintaining the tube II) in position upon the said cowl. Y

A telescopically extendable and retractable anftenna I8 engages through the metal tube Ill. The antenna I8 is constructed of several sections Ia, Ib and IBC. The section I8b is slidably engaged into the section |821 and the section I8c is slida-bly engaged into the section- Ib. The section |811 extends through the tube I0 and is provided at its bottom end with an outwardly extending flange I Saa which is adapted to strike the bottom end of the tube i0, as shown in Fig. 3, to prevent its disengagement therefrom.. Each of the other sections of the antenna I8 is formed with an enlarged portion Id which is adapted to strike against the inturned top edge of the section within which it is slidably engaged for preven-ting the disengagement of the sections.

A metallic spring I9 is mounted on the metal tube I0 and is provided for rigidly bearing against the outer face of the section I8a of the antenna I8 for providing a continuous contact between the antenna I8 and the tube I0. The nut I'I 1' which is engaged upon the ybottom, end of the tube I8 is provided with an extension Ila upon which one end of a wire 21D is adapted to be mounted. The other end of the wire 20 is adapted to be connected to the antenna post of the radio I3.`

A flexible case 2l is mounted upon the bottom end of the metal tube I0 below the nut Il and in the retracted position of the antenna I8 the antenna. is adapted to extend into the flexible case 2l. The ilexible case comprises an inner coarse cloth section 2 ia upon which a rnetal mesh section 2lb is superimposed. An outer cloth section 2lc engages over the metal section 2|b and all of the sections are rigidly maintained in position upon the bottom end of the metal tube I0 by means of a collar 22 which engages thereabout.

The metal section 2 Ib is provided with two extensions or pigtails Zibb and Zibbb. The latter is adapted to be grounded to the vehicle body and extension 2 lbb is attached to one end of a ground wire 23 which runsv parallel with the antenna wire 23 but is insulated therefrom. The other end of the wire 23 to adapted to be attached to the ground post of the radio I3. When the antenna is extended into the ilexible case 2|, as shown in Fig. 1, it is adapted to project vertically downwards from the end of the tube Il) and occupy a portion of the space normally needed by the driver. For this reason a cloth covering 2d is engaged over the casing 2|. A kick pad 25 is mounted on the outer face of the cover 24 and is adapted to be engaged by ones feet during operation of the vehicle for protecting the flexible casing 2i to prevent the cloth covering Zic thereof from becoming worn or damaged.

W'hen the antenna is in its extended position, as illustrated in Fig. 5, a means is provided for holding the kick pad 25 and the exible casing 2i against the inner wall of the vehicle for maintaining the same away from the legs of the driver. This means comprises a pair of spaced elastic bands 26 which have their intermediate portions attached to the outer face of the kick pad 25. The ends of the elastic bands 26, as shown in` Fig. 4:, are attached to the inside of the vehicle for drawing the flexible case thereagainst.

In Fig. 6, the upper extension 2 lbb of the flexible case 2l, is shown to be connected to the ground wire 23 and to the vehicle body at the upper end of the insulation tube l5. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form and at the various parts may be recognized by the similar reference numerals.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A top cowl vehicle antenna, comprising a metal tube extending through an opening in the cowl of a vehicle in the vicinity of the driver, a top insulation cover tube engaging over the top projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening, a bottom insulation cover tube engaging over the bottom projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening, nuts mounted on the top and bottom ends of said metal tube and clamping said insulation tubes in position, a telescopically extendable and retractable antenna engaging through said metal tube, a flexible case for the antenna in its retracted position and attached on the bottom of said metal tube, and a kick pad mounted on said vehicle and covering said flexible casing for protecting same.

2. A top cowl vehicle antenna, comprising a metal tube extending through an opening in the cowl of a vehicle in the vicinity of the driver, a top insulation cover tube engaging over the top projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening, a bottom insulation cover tube engaging over the bottom projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening, nuts mounted on the top and bottom ends of said metaltube and clamping said insulation tubes in position, a telescopically extendable and retractable antenna engaging through said metal tube, a ilexible case for the antenna in its retracted position and attached on the bottom of said metal tube, and a kick pad mounted on said vehicle and covering said ilexible casing for protecting sarne, said top insulation cover tube having its bottom end cut at an inclination to agree with the surface curvature of said cowl and said bottom insulation cover tube having its top edge cut at an inclination to agree .with the surface curvature of said cowl.

3. A top cowl vehicle antenna, comprising a metal tube extending through an opening in the cowl of a vehicle in the vicinity of the driver, a top insulation cover tube engaging over the top projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening,

a bottom insulation cover tube engaging over the .v

bottom projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening, nuts mounted on the top and bottom ends of said metal tube and clamping said insulation tubes in position, a telescopically extendable and retractable antenna engaging through said metal tube, a exible case for the antenna in its retracted position and attached on the bottom of said metal tube, and a kick pad mounted on said vehicle and covering said flex-- ible casing for protecting same, said antenna being formed of a plurality of sections each of which is telescopically engaged within one another.

4. A top cowl vehicle antenna, comprising a metal tube extending through an opening in the cowl of a vehicle in the vicinity of the driver, a top insulation cover tube engaging over the top projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening,

tom ends of said metal tube and clamping saidi insulation tubes in position, a telescopically extendable and retractable antenna engaging through said metal tube, a flexible case for'the antenna in its retracted position and attached on the bottom of said metal tube, and a kick pad mounted on said vehicle and covering said flexible casing for protecting same, said flexible case being constructed of several sections comprising an inner coarse cloth section, an intermediate wire mesh section, and an outer Vcloth cover section. Y

5. A top cowl vehicle antenna, comprising a metaltube extending through an opening in the cowl of a Vehicle in the vicinity of the driver, a

Cil

top insulation cover tube engaging over the top projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening, a bottom insulation cover tube engaging over the bottom projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening, nuts mounted on the top and bottom ends of said metal tube and clamping said insulation tubes in position, a telescopically extendable and retractable antenna engaging through said metal tube, a flexible case for the antenna in its retracted position and attached on the bottom of said metal tube, and a kick pad mounted on said vehicle and covering said flexible casing for protecting same, said iiexible case being constructed of several sections comprising an inner coarse cloth sectionan intermediate wire mesh section, and an outer cloth cover section, said wire mesh section being grounded to the body of said vehicle and being connected to the ground post of a radio.

6. A top cowl vehicle antenna, comprising a metal tube extending through an opening in the cowl of a vehicle in the vicinity of the driver, a top insulation cover tube engaging over the top projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening, a bottom insulation cover tube engaging over the bottom projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening, nuts mounted on the top and bottom ends of said metal tube and clamping said insulation tubes in position, a telescopically extendable and retractable antenna engaging through said metal tube, a exible case for the antenna in its retracted position and attached on the bottom of said metal tube, and a kick pad mounted on said vehicle and covering said exible casing for protecting same, and means for holding the kick pad and said case against the wall of the vehicle when the antenna is extended.

7. A top cowl vehicle antenna, comprising a metal tube extending through an opening in the cowl of a vehicle in the vicinity of the driver, a top insulation cover tube engaging over the top projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening, a bottom insulation cover tube engaging over the bottom projecting portion of said metal through said metaltube, a exible case for the antenna in its retracted position and attached on the bottom of said metal tube, and a kick pad mounted on said vehicle and covering said flexible casing for protecting same, and means for holding the kick pad and said case against the wall of the vehicle when the 4antenna is extended, said means comprising spaced elastic bands having their intermediate portions attached to the outer face of said kick pad and their ends attached to the inside of said vehicle.

8. A top cowl vehicle antenna, comprising a metal tube extending through an opening inthe cowl of a vehicle in the vicinity of the driver, a top insulation cover tube engaging over the top projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening, a bottom insulation cover tube engaging over the bottom projecting portion of said metal tube and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening, nuts mounted on the top and bottom ends of said metal tube and clamping said insulation tubes in position, a telescopically extendable and retractable antenna engaging through said metal tube, a flexible case for the antenna in its retracted position and attached on the bottom of said metal tube, and a kick pad mounted on said vehicle and covering said iiexible casing for protecting same, a cover being engaged o-ver said case, and said kick pad being mounted upon said cover.

9. A top cowl vehicle antenna, comprising a metal tube partially covered with an insulation sleeve, extending through an opening in the cowl of a vehicle in the vicinity of the driver, a top insulation cover tube engaging over the top projecting portion of said metal tube and the insulating sleeve and abutting the material of said cowl about said opening, a bottom insulation cover tube engaging over the bottom projecting portion of said metal tube and the insulating sleeve and abutting the material of said cowl labout said opening, nuts mounted on the top and bottom ends of said metal tube and clamping said insulation tubes in position, a telescopically extendable and retractable antenna engaging through said metal tube, a flexible case for the antenna in its retracted position and attached on the bottom of said metal tube, and a kick pad mounted on said vehicle and covering said flexible casing for protecting same.

HERMAN GREENBERG. PHILIP AMORRISON. 

